[Amended 4-20-2010 by L.L. No. 2-2010; 2-4-2025 by L.L. No. 3-2025; 4-1-2025 by L.L. No. 5-2025]
The elected officers of the City shall consist of the following:
Mayor
Commissioner of Finance
Commissioner of Public Works
Commissioner of Public Safety
Commissioner of Accounts
Two Supervisors
Each officer shall be elected for a term of two years, from and including the first day of January next succeeding the election until the election and qualification of his or her successor.
Beginning on January 1, 2026, The Mayor and each Commissioner shall receive a salary of $27,456 per year. The Supervisors shall receive the salary enacted by the County Law.
Before assuming duties, each officer shall take and file the constitutional oath of office.
No person shall be eligible to serve as an elective officer unless at the time of election the individual is a resident elector of the City and is duly qualified pursuant to the requirements of the Public Officers Law.
The Mayor and Commissioners shall constitute the City Council, and shall be the legislative body of City government. The Council shall propose and enact legislation, establish policy, adopt a comprehensive City Budget, adopt a Comprehensive Plan and land use legislation, assess lawful taxes, fees, rents, and utility rates, provide for public health, safety and welfare, and oversee fundamental operations, finances, and property of City government.
The Council shall be vested with the powers granted to the City under New York State General City Law and other applicable laws; the Council may delegate such powers lawfully. Each Council member shall perform all duties imposed on him or her by this Charter and the ordinances and local laws of the City, and the laws of the State of New York and the United States. No matter before the Council shall be finally decided unless and until it has been moved and voted on at an open Council meeting. Three members shall constitute a quorum; a lesser number may adjourn. The vote of three members shall be necessary to pass any matter, unless otherwise provided in the Charter.
The Council has the authority to enact, amend, or repeal local laws, ordinances, and resolutions not inconsistent with the laws of the state or this Charter, for the government of the City and the management of its business, for the preservation of good order, peace, and health, for the safety and welfare of its inhabitants, and for the protection and security of their property.
The Council shall conduct open meetings in accordance with provisions of the Public Officers Law, and shall keep a public record of its proceedings. The Council shall state and enter into the record the reason(s) for closing to the public any part of any meeting. Members of the public shall be scheduled to speak at Council meetings at times and in such manner as the Council shall establish. Time shall be allotted at every Council meeting for the public to speak.
Regular meetings of the Council shall be on the first and third Tuesday of each month; other meetings shall be held at such times the Council may schedule. Agendas for regular meetings shall be finalized and filed in the City Clerk's office for public review no later than noon the day preceding such meeting. Agendas for meetings other than regular meetings shall be prepared and filed for public review to the extent practicable. Matters not listed on the agenda for a meeting may not be finally acted on at that meeting, unless one or more Council members shall propose an unlisted matter be finally acted upon, and shall state on the record the reason why such matter was not listed on the agenda, and the Council shall, by motion and vote, find that immediate final action on the matter is necessary.
The Council or any member thereof may create such ad hoc committees and appoint members thereto as deemed necessary in the public interest.
The Council shall have authority to establish bond for any elected official, public officer, or City employee.
Supervisors shall represent the City at the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
Supervisors shall sit at all meetings of the Council and shall regularly report to and seek advice from the Council on matters affecting City residents and taxpayers that are coming before the County Board of Supervisors. Supervisors may submit agenda items for public information and discussion, and may request the Council conduct a public hearing on County issues of interest to the City and taxpayers that are before the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
Nothing in this Charter shall be construed as prohibiting any person from simultaneously holding the office of County Supervisor and the office of a Council member.
A vacancy in an elective office shall exist upon the death of the incumbent, the incumbent's resignation or removal from office, or occurrence of events specified in § 30 of New York State Public Officers Law.
In case of a vacancy caused by other than expiration of term, the Council shall appoint a person to fill such vacancy until the end of the official year in which said vacancy occurs. If the term of office of the officer vacating the office continues beyond the official year in which said vacancy occurs, a person shall be elected at a special election held after the occurrence of such vacancy to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
There shall be a Civil Service Commission. The Council shall appoint three Civil Service Commissioners to serve for six-year staggered terms, without compensation. No two members of the Commission shall be affiliated with the same political party.
The Council shall fill vacancies for unexpired terms. No Civil Service Commissioner shall hold concurrently another City office or City employment.
The Civil Service Commission shall prepare its annual budget, and the Mayor shall present it to the Council.
The Civil Service Law of New York State shall govern the acts of the Commissioners and powers of the Commission.
The Mayor and each Commissioner shall be entitled to such deputies and employees as the Council may determine. The Council shall establish appropriate compensation for each deputy and employee. Each Council member shall appoint deputies and employees serving his or her Department.
2.6.1 
Deputies. Deputies shall be public officers. Each deputy shall serve at the pleasure of, and not longer than the term of, the Council member making the deputy's appointment. The Council may establish appropriate qualifications for any deputy.
2.6.2 
Employees of City entities. Whenever it is provided in this Charter or other law that any agency, board, commission, or other entity shall have authority to hire one or more employees, such employees shall be hired in coordination with the Human Resources Administrator, and their employment shall be consistent with the provisions of Civil Service Law.
The Council shall adopt a Code of Ethics to guide the actions of elected and appointed City officers and employees. The Code of Ethics adopted shall be consistent with Article 18 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York. The City Code of Ethics shall be updated as needed pursuant to § 806 of the General Municipal Law.
No Council member shall be eligible to hold any appointive office, position, employment, or contract with the City or any of its entities for which compensation was established or increased by the Council while the member served, until one year from the date the Council member ceased to serve.
The Mayor, Commissioners, and Supervisors may be removed from office for cause by the Governor in the manner provided for removal of the Chief Executive Officer of a City in § 33 of the New York Public Officers Law.
Any appointee or employee may be removed by the officer appointing such person in a manner consistent with provisions of the New York Civil Service Law.